https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19...ommends-maternal-vaccination-against-covid-19
Veering from CDC, ACOG recommends maternal vaccination against COVID-19
Stephanie Soucheray, MA
Today at 3:50 p.m.
COVID-19
Influenza Vaccines
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
The documents are based on clinical data, ACOG said, and released prior to the upcoming respiratory cold and flu season in collaboration with the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy’s Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP).
This marks the second time this month a major professional medical association has broken from the current US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations.
In the face of misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, a strong, evidence-based recommendation in support of vaccination from a trusted clinician can go a long way.
“In the face of misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, a strong, evidence-based recommendation in support of vaccination from a trusted clinician can go a long way toward encouraging our patients to protect themselves and their pregnancies,” said Sandra E. Brooks, MD, MBA, chief executive officer of ACOG, in a statement. “As respiratory illness season begins, it is crucial that my fellow health care professionals actively support and recommend COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines for pregnant patients.”
Widespread recommendation for COVID vaccines
ACOG recommended all women pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing receive a COVID-19 booster or seasonal dose.
This recommendation contradicts guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which does not recommend routine COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy or in healthy children after Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced drastic reductions in the groups recommended to receive COVID-19 vaccines annually.
“While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently removed its recommendation that pregnant and lactating individuals receive updated COVID-19 vaccines, ACOG’s recommendations have not changed,” the document guidance said. “Pregnant women have historically been at an increased risk of severe disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and maternal death from COVID-19 infections.”
In addition to protecting pregnant women from severe COVID-19, vaccines offer passive protections to newborns for at least a few months, ACOG notes in its guidance.
“Looking closely at the full body of data clearly shows that the COVID-19 vaccines are not only completely safe for use during pregnancy but also protective both during pregnancy and after the infant is born,” said Mark Turrentine, MD, one of the named authors of the practice advisory.
Flu and RSV vaccines strongly recommended
Documents on influenza and RSV vaccine also show strong recommendations for all pregnant women and note that pregnant women have had low uptake of seasonal flu shots in recent years.
“ACOG recommends influenza vaccination before the start of the influenza season but encourages vaccination at any time during the influenza season to ensure protection as long as the virus is circulating in the community,” the document said.
RSV vaccines are strongly recommended during the RSV season for patients between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant, or those who are not giving birth within 2 weeks of administration of the vaccine.
“Patients should also understand that if they decline the maternal RSV vaccination, their infant needs a monoclonal antibody at birth,” the ACOG document said.
The guidance documents note all three vaccines, COVID, flu, and RSV, can be administered at the same time.
Veering from CDC, ACOG recommends maternal vaccination against COVID-19
Stephanie Soucheray, MA
Today at 3:50 p.m.
COVID-19
Influenza Vaccines
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Days after a similar move from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) late last week released updated clinical guidance documents regarding vaccination during pregnancy against COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.The documents are based on clinical data, ACOG said, and released prior to the upcoming respiratory cold and flu season in collaboration with the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy’s Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP).
This marks the second time this month a major professional medical association has broken from the current US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations.
In the face of misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, a strong, evidence-based recommendation in support of vaccination from a trusted clinician can go a long way.
“In the face of misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, a strong, evidence-based recommendation in support of vaccination from a trusted clinician can go a long way toward encouraging our patients to protect themselves and their pregnancies,” said Sandra E. Brooks, MD, MBA, chief executive officer of ACOG, in a statement. “As respiratory illness season begins, it is crucial that my fellow health care professionals actively support and recommend COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines for pregnant patients.”
Widespread recommendation for COVID vaccines
ACOG recommended all women pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing receive a COVID-19 booster or seasonal dose.
This recommendation contradicts guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which does not recommend routine COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy or in healthy children after Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced drastic reductions in the groups recommended to receive COVID-19 vaccines annually.
“While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently removed its recommendation that pregnant and lactating individuals receive updated COVID-19 vaccines, ACOG’s recommendations have not changed,” the document guidance said. “Pregnant women have historically been at an increased risk of severe disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and maternal death from COVID-19 infections.”
In addition to protecting pregnant women from severe COVID-19, vaccines offer passive protections to newborns for at least a few months, ACOG notes in its guidance.
“Looking closely at the full body of data clearly shows that the COVID-19 vaccines are not only completely safe for use during pregnancy but also protective both during pregnancy and after the infant is born,” said Mark Turrentine, MD, one of the named authors of the practice advisory.
Flu and RSV vaccines strongly recommended
Documents on influenza and RSV vaccine also show strong recommendations for all pregnant women and note that pregnant women have had low uptake of seasonal flu shots in recent years.
“ACOG recommends influenza vaccination before the start of the influenza season but encourages vaccination at any time during the influenza season to ensure protection as long as the virus is circulating in the community,” the document said.
RSV vaccines are strongly recommended during the RSV season for patients between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant, or those who are not giving birth within 2 weeks of administration of the vaccine.
“Patients should also understand that if they decline the maternal RSV vaccination, their infant needs a monoclonal antibody at birth,” the ACOG document said.
The guidance documents note all three vaccines, COVID, flu, and RSV, can be administered at the same time.